Conclusion The problem of gender discrimination cannot be isolated to media environment. Gender based discrimination is a societal and national problem. The issues highlighted in this report though specific to the media work environment they can be said to mirror gender based discrimination which is prevalent in society, historically and otherwise. The study has established that root causes of gender discrimination, the inequalities and social injustices that continue to persist are as a result of patriarchy being firmly entrenched in our societies. Over half of the respondents were female. This is despite the general feeling amongst research participants that the media industry is still a very male dominated environment, particularly at a management level. This in connection with ownership of media houses being held by predominantly male individuals who are of older generations. This suggests that, the upholding of a patriarchal culture in the media work environment may continue to persist. With the majority of participants being in the lower levels of the professional tier as well as being female, the conflation between gender and sex is problematic in that it may lead some media professionals assuming that gender roles, just like sex, are biologically determined and therefore not subjected to scrutiny and in turn cannot be challenged, let alone changed. Concern should be raised that in order for a thriving, equitable and diverse media environment to be developed. Media professionals both male and female should be made aware of the impact that gender based discrimination has on the Zambian media environment. The study has also shown that the reasons for gender based discrimination area nuanced. There is a definitive sense that the various forms of gender based discrimination impact both male and female media professionals. The driving factors behind gender discrimination are clearly far more challenging to combat. This means that solutions to it require innovation and strategic approaches. They require on-going, long-term commitment by various stakeholders who can facilitate a shift in the way men and women relate to each other and are treated, not only on a professional level, but in all other spheres. Among other things this requires not only men’s involvement in strategies that seek to eradicate the practice but also strategies targeted at them. • Prevalence and nature of gender discrimination in Zambian workplaces; • Perceptions of gender discrimination among media workers in Zambian workplaces; • Causes of gender discrimination as well as the challenges victims confront when lodging a complaint or when deciding to remain in the newsroom or abandon the media profession; • Effect(s) of gender discrimination on both victims and perpetrators; and, • Mechanisms(if any) currently in place Zambian workplaces that deal with gender discrimination issues. 25